Playing and teaching bridge has taken me all over the world. In some countries, they spot Americans a mile away (probably I shouldn't wear sneakers and a baseball cap). When touring (usually with my wife), "hawkers" constantly harass us trying to sell their wares. I've taken to answering in Spanish (my wife's native language). I say, "Yo soy de Espana" (I am from Spain)--hoping they will leave me alone. No. They seem to be multi-lingual pests--they start harassing me in Spanish!

World Champion Jon Baldursson of IcelandI figured out a solution. I asked my friend Jon Baldursson (a world champion from Iceland), how to say "I am from Iceland" in Icelandic. Surely, the hustlers wouldn't understand.
I have practiced saying "Eg er fra Island" over and over. Every time I see Jon, I greet him with that phrase. I am now ready to hit the streets of the world with my new protective language.
At the 2009 Spingold in Washington D.C., I played against Jon in the Round of 16. This was an amusing deal from the 4th quarter:
Vul: None Dir: North |
J 9 5 4
8 4
J 10 6 5
A 6 5
|
|
Q 7 3 2
K Q 10 9 7 5
Q 7
K
|
|
K 10 8 6
J 6 3
9 8 4 3 2
10
|
|
Jon Baldursson |
|
|
A
A 2
A K
Q J 9 8 7 4 3 2
|
|
Jon held the South cards and in 3rd seat he opened with a strong-club (Precision-Style).
With the West cards, I preempted 2
(yes, I was "heavy," but my partner had already passed and it is a good idea to jam the auction when the opponents show strength). North passed and David Berkowitz (East) raised LAWfully to 3
.
What should Jon do with the South cards? He thought and thought. He had a very funny expression on his face. He looked at me and smiled (we were on the same side of the screen).
Just for fun, I took the 7NT card out of my bidding box and handed it to him. He laughed, but didn't accept my offer. Instead, he chose to bid 5
.
North, with his
A, considered raising, but passed. Against 5
I led a high heart. If the clubs were 2-0, declarer would probably lose a club and a heart. But, with clubs 1-1 and the
Q dropping, declarer easily made 7 (the heart loser went on the
J).
This board was actually a push (our teammates also played in 5
making 7).
But, after the hand was played, I told Jon that I had handed him the winning bid--7NT was cold! Next time, maybe he will take my advice, just as I've taken his (on how to speak Icelandic).